Second, Fourth and Sixth Massachusetts Batteries at Baton Rouge.
The 10th of July the battery was ordered on board the Laurel Hill for Baton Rouge, but on reaching the wharf found the steamer already overcrowded. Consequently orders were given to march that distance. Accordingly with nine other batteries and the infantry it began a tedious all night march, many of the men, who had been up for three nights, falling asleep on their horses. At Baton Rouge transports were taken for Donaldsonville where skirmishing was going on with a hostile force under Dick Taylor. Before the reinforcement arrived the enemy retreated, but as an attack was expected the right and left sections of the battery were immediately ordered on picket duty, where they remained for the next two days without, however, encountering the enemy.
A stay of two weeks at Donaldsonville was followed by a march to Carrollton and then to New Orleans in company with Battery L, the 159th New York and a large wagon train all under command of Colonel Molineaux. This march was exceedingly trying on account of the excessive heat which exhausted the men and killed two or three horses.
While at Donaldsonville four members of the company who had been taken prisoners at Brashear City, while in hospital there, arrived and were sent to New Orleans, being on parole.
The battery arrived at New Orleans on August 5, took up quarters in the Mississippi Cotton Press, where it remained from the 6th of August to the 17th of September.
First Lieutenant Hall having resigned, his juniors were promoted in turn, and First Sergeant Joseph K. Greenleaf of Boston was commissioned as junior second lieutenant. Early in October Second Lieut. Edw. K. Russell was promoted and transferred to the 6th Massachusetts Battery, creating a vacancy which was filled some time later by the commissioning of First Sergeant Lucian A. Hodgdon of Somerville. At the same time Gunner Swan was made sergeant of the 2d detachment, Corporal Ellis gunner of the 3d detachment and Private Taylor corporal of the 2d detachment.
During the stay in New Orleans the battery was commanded to mount as horse or flying artillery and to join the cavalry division of the 19th Army Corps. Associated with them were two other batteries, one from Missouri, and one from the regular army, and Captain Nims was appointed Chief of Artillery of the 19th Army Corps, Col. A. L. Lee, and was made a member of Colonel Lee's staff.
The first parade of these batteries as horse artillery (at which Nims' Battery held the post of honor), took place September 5, and was witnessed by Generals Banks, Arnold, Franklin and many other officers. The following letter, a copy of which was found among Colonel Nims' papers, is a proof of their high opinion of this new organization.
Office, Chief of Artillery.
Hd. Qrs. Dept. of the Gulf,